Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has stressed that the Great Council of Chiefs meeting cannot go ahead in Bau next week.

Although Tui Tavua Ratu Ovini Bokini and lawyer Savenaca Komaisavai have maintained that the agenda of the GCC meeting is being prepared and they are planning to meet in Bau, Commodore Bainimarama said their comments are misleading.

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The Interim Fijian Affairs Minister stresses that the planned GCC meeting in Bau next week will not be recognised by the interim administration.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau said any GCC meeting has to be gazetted and that will not be done.

He also said the GCC falls under the Fijian Affairs Regulation and is not a body operated by the members of the council.

Meanwhile, Ratu Ovini Bokini said the invitation from Bau chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau for the GCC to meet in Bau is an informal one. Ratu Ovini said Ratu Epenisa in his capacity as a chief is offering the GCC members to go to Bau next week to discuss issues regarding the chiefly body. The Tui Tavua said that this morning, Burebasaga high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa has also invited the GCC to meet in Lomanikoro in Rewa next week.

However, when we contacted Ratu Epenisa yesterday, he said that he had not invited the GCC members to meet in Bau.